A14 junction 47a Haughley to 49 Tothill reconstruction scheme
We'll be carrying out reconstruction work on the A14 carriageway between Junction 47a Haughley to Junction 49 Tothill, which currently has a concrete road surface. The work includes a total reconstruction of the road, installing a new safety barrier, clearing drains, repainting road markings, and inserting new reflective road studs (cat’s eyes).
Project information
We will be carrying out work to rebuild the A14 road’s carriageway between Junction 47a Haughley to Junction 49 Tothill.
When our main work begins in 2023, we will be using a contraflow to minimise disruption and keep traffic flowing as smoothly as possible. A contraflow is when the road is shut in one direction and traffic is then moved over to drive on the other side of the road to share the remaining carriageway. This provides us with a clear working area that means we can work more quickly and safely.
For the safety of road users and our workforce, temporary speed limits will be in place during works. They will be clearly signed and enforced by speed cameras.
View a list of temporary speed restriction locations.
This video explains the process we go through to rebuild concrete roads:
Road closures and diversions
For safety, some road closures will be needed at key stages in our project. We’ll publish information about these closures on this webpage and on our social media channels when the details have been confirmed.
When these closures take place, a fully signed diversion route will be in place.
Reducing the impact of our work
We know that our construction work will create some congestion and longer journey times, so we want to help you decide your travel plans by giving you information to help you consider alternative ways of reaching your destination.
We’re sorry for the inconvenience our construction work will cause, and we’ll continue to liaise with local business and public transport providers whilst we’re working.
Consider your options
We know that it’s a lot to ask, but we’d like to encourage you to think about how best to make your journey.
Some things to consider include:
Car sharing
If you need to travel for work, could you car share with a colleague, a family member or a friend who is travelling in the same direction? Car sharing means less traffic on the roads and reduced congestion, which means quicker commutes. It’ll also help to save you money and reduce pollution.
Travelling in a different way
Another thing to consider is if you can you use a different form of transport.
Is there a train service to where you need to reach? Can you walk or cycle for at least part of your journey? Is there a bus or coach you could take? Fewer vehicles on the road means less congestion through the roadworks or on the diversion route.
Please visit the Suffolk on Board website to learn more about the public transport options in your area.
Sticking to our diversion route during A14 closures
We ask that drivers remain on the A14 and drive through the contraflow roadworks throughout our construction period. However, some road closures will be needed at key stages in our project for safety reasons. When these closures are in place, please use the agreed diversion route along the A143 and A140 shown on this website.
We ask drivers not to ‘rat run’ on smaller, local roads, as this can impact on villages and local communities. Not only do these roads have lower speed restrictions, they also aren’t meant for large vehicles or high volumes of traffic, and often have weight restrictions in place. It can also lead to more congestion, increasing the risk of accidents for both motorists and pedestrians.
Working from home
We know it’s not possible for everyone to work remotely, but please consider working from home for part of the week if you have that option.
Re-timing your journey
If you can’t work from home, another option could be choosing to make your journey at a different time. Whether you’re travelling by car or public transport, re-timing your journey to avoid morning and afternoon peak travel times can help reduce congestion, and travelling when the road is less busy will help reduce the amount of time you spend commuting.
Are you a local business who’s interested in improving journeys for your employees?
We’re committed to working with the local authorities, business organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce and Local Enterprise Partnerships, and individual businesses and transport providers in the area. To discuss how we can assist your travel planning, please contact us.
Our repairs will help improve the safety of the road surface, but it will also provide a smoother and quieter journey for road users. Rather than repairing the potholes and cracking, the whole carriageway will be reconstructed and re-laid to ensure a smoother and safer ride. Once complete, we expect the life of the road surface to be extended by up to 40 more years, with fewer future closures for maintenance repairs, meaning more reliable journeys for road users.
We’ve set up a free SMS alerts service to warn road users, via text message, of any incidents that occur within our roadworks on the A14 during peak travel times.
You can sign up for this service by sending your mobile number to: ConcreteRoadsEastA14@nationalhighways.co.uk. Please reference the 'A14 junction 47a Haughley to 49 Tothill SMS service' in the subject line of your email, so it's clear which scheme updates you'd like to register for.
Please note that you can opt out at any time by contacting us at the same email address.
Documents
Traffic information
Information about scheduled roadworks and events on our motorways and major roads.X
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